Wozniacki's strategy lacks common sense

Two well-known players — Caroline Wozniacki and Tommy Haas — had to retire from their matches on Wednesday. I like both players, but my reactions to the two injuries were quite different.

In the case of Haas, I felt bad. Haas is a talented and charismatic guy who has had to work very hard to return to the game on multiple occasions. He finally won his first match of 2011 earlier this week in Newport, R.I., but then had to retire from his second-round match with a back injury. At his age (33, advanced for pro tennis), I admire his determination to return; many players would have called it a career after suffering through significant injuries this late in their career. I hope Haas's setback is minor and temporary.

In the case of Wozniacki, who injured her shoulder, I feel a bit exasperated. She's the No. 1 player in the world — she doesn't need to play so much. Why on earth is the top-ranked player competing in a tournament the very week after Wimbledon? Following a rigorous spring and early summer that includes the long claycourt season followed by a month on grass, and highlighted by two Grand Slam events that are physically and emotionally draining, the top players almost always take at least a week off. Roger Federer generally plays only two events between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Among the top 20 women, Wozniacki is the only one who entered a tournament this week.

And to make it even more puzzling, Wozniacki played a tournament on clay! Why? The claycourt season is over. Wozniacki is still chasing her first major title, and her next opportunity is the U.S. Open in about six weeks. Shouldn't her focus be on preparing for the fast hardcourts of New York instead of sliding around on European clay against inferior opponents? It just seems that a week or two off to recharge her batteries, followed by a a few U.S. Open Series tuneups, would be the best strategy. Now, you have to wonder if her injury will shorten her hardcourt season.

It may be foolish of me to question the preparation of the No. 1 player in the world, but playing in a tournament that seems to do nothing for her U.S. Open prospects strikes me as curious. It makes me wonder if holding on to the No. 1 ranking is more of a priority than winning a major. And let's face it — the time is right for Wozniacki to break through. Kim Clijsters is hurt. The Williams sisters have barely played. Li Na and Petra Kvitova have capitalized on the wise-open nature of women's tennis to win their first majors. Wozniacki could be next. She may need a better plan for making that happen.